Hypoglycemic activity of Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng and Mollugo oppositifolia L. fresh and alcoholic extracts in the db/db diabetic mouse model

Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng and Mollugo oppositifolia L., also known as “bignay” and “malagoso” respectively, are commonly used medicinal plants in the Philippines to treat diabetes. However, the hypoglycemic effect of A. bunius (L.) Spreng and M. oppositifolia L. has not been reported to date. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of the fresh and ethanolic extracts of the plants in db/db diabetic male mice. Fresh and ethanolic extracts (12.5 ml/kg and 250 mg/kg, respectively) were administered by gavage in db/db mouse, an animal model of diabetes. Blood from the tail snip was used to measure blood sugar levels on days 1 (D1), 8 (D8), 15 (D15), 22 (D22) and 29 (D29). Fresh extract of M. oppositifolia L. caused a significant reduction of blood glucose levels on D22 compared to untreated db/db mice (P < 0.05). On D29, fresh extract of A. bunius (L.) Spreng (P < 0.01), and fresh (P < 0.01) and ethanolic leaf extracts (P < 0.05) of M. oppossitifolia L. caused a significant reduction of blood glucose compared to untreated db/db mice. Fresh and ethanolic extracts of A. bunius (L.) Spreng and M. oppositifolia L. exhibited a significant hypoglycemic activity in db/db mice.   Key words: Antidesma bunius L, Spreng, Mollugo oppositifolia L., diabetes, mouse, hypoglycemic.